The Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Wednesday on the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, turned out to be a rather heated affair, the highlight being Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's face-melting rebuttal to Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) over his accusation that the White House had misled the public about the attack. But Republicans on the committee got in a few swings of their own, most notably from Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), a Tea Party favorite who is seen as a potential contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

"I would have relieved you of your post," said Paul. "I think it's inexcusable that you did not know about this," referring to diplomatic cables requesting more security at the consulate in Benghazi where four Americans were killed.

He added, "With your leaving, you accept culpability for the greatest tragedy since 9/11."